EU set to add to sanctions blacklist over Ukraine: sources

(BRUSSELS) - EU foreign ministers will add names to a blacklist of individuals sanctioned over the Ukraine crisis when they meet Thursday but stop short of new measures targeting Russia's economy, sources said.

The leaders of the 28 European Union nations issued a rare joint statement on Tuesday telling ministers "to consider any appropriate action" after a bloody upsurge in fighting around the key port city of Mariupol by pro-Russia rebels.

Economic sanctions will not be approved at Thursday's meeting but the foreign ministers are expected to ask the European Commission to draw up possible further steps so that leaders can make a decision at a summit on February 12, the sources said.

"We will probably see a request for the European Commission to put more people on the list and evaluate the scope for further appropriate measures," an EU source told AFP on condition of anonymity Wednesday.

A second European source confirmed that the ministers were headed towards recommending more individual sanctions, adding that it was "not yet sure if just separatists or if Russians too" would be targeted.

"Sectoral sanctions will not be brought up," the source added.

Since Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014 the EU has slapped asset freezes and travel bans on dozens of individuals ranging from associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Ukrainian separatist leaders.

After the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in July, with the loss of nearly 300 people, Brussels dramatically stepped up reprisals to target the defence, energy and financial sectors of the Russian economy.

But divisions between EU nations over the extent of sanctions against their huge eastern neighbour are likely to resurface at Thursday's meeting in Brussels.

"The question of economic sanctions is open. With the declaration (on Thursday) everyone will probably have his proper interpretation on what it exactly means," the EU source said.

"What we need is a formula which demonstrates the unity of the EU in this question."

Many of the EU's newer members are from eastern Europe and are deeply suspicious of Russian motives, while others fear the impact on trade and political links with Russia.

A new concern has emerged after Greece's new anti-austerity Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras distanced himself Tuesday from the EU leaders' statement, saying Athens was not consulted about it in advance.

EU diplomatic sources said that in preparatory talks Wednesday Greece had told its partners it could not support the statement "since the new prime minister was not involved."

They said Greece's reservations meant officials were unable to finalise a document for the foreign ministers and that there would have to be further talks tomorrow before the meeting begins at 1400 GMT.